Ukrainian defender dreams of programming again after losing sight in hostilities

Bohdan Shyn, a Ukrainian defender from the city of Kamianske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, completely lost his sight during the war. Before the full-scale war, he was a programmer, and he dreams of returning to his profession one day.

Source: The Nezlamni (Unbroken) National Rehabilitation Centre

Bohdan, 42, has a much-loved wife and two sons. As soon as Russia began its onslaught on Ukraine, he resolved to defend his country.

He voluntarily joined the Defence Forces and joined the ranks of the National Guard of Ukraine in March 2022. Almost a year after joining the army, Bohdan experienced what had been his worst fear when he went to war – while fighting on the Luhansk front, he suffered the irreversible loss of his sight.

As soon as Russia began its onslaught on Ukraine, the man decided to defend his country

.All photo: Nezlamni Centre

"We got into positions. The enemy immediately started an assault on us. Everything was flying at us, and then one of the mines flew towards me. All I remember is an explosion, a bright flash in my eyes, and that's all, then I lost consciousness," the defender says.

It wasn’t until several weeks after he was injured that Bohdan regained consciousness – now in a hospital in Kyiv. This is how he describes his feelings at the time.

"I opened my eyes – it was dark. At first I thought it was just swelling or a bandage."

Then he realised that he had lost his left eye, and his right eye, although physically still there, would never be able to see again.

"Losing my eyesight, for me, is something I’ve dreaded my whole life. I took it very hard and still can't say I've come to terms with it," the defender admits.

Thanks to the support of his wife, sons, friends and colleagues, Bohdan was able to find the strength and motivation to live on.

The man lost his left eye, and his right eye, although physically still there, will never be able to see again

Volunteers in Kyiv picked up a cane for the blind veteran and taught him to get around with its help.

Thanks to the support of his wife, sons, friends and colleagues, Bohdan was able to find the strength and motivation to live on

Despite losing his sight, Bohdan dreams of working as a programmer again.

Bohdan was sent to Lviv to the Nezlamni (Unbroken) National Rehabilitation Centre for the rehabilitation of servicemen who lost their sight on the battlefield. In a short time, specialists have helped Bohdan to adapt to everyday life at home and outside the hospital.

Currently, the defender is adapting to life in at home

Here, for the first time since his injury, he sat down at a laptop and learned to use it – now with the help of special voice programs for blind people.

Despite the loss of sight, Bohdan dreams of working as a programmer again

The defender believes that he will be able to overcome his injury and will program again one day.

Read also: Liut Assault Brigade soldier saves lives of three brothers-in-arms, seeks to avenge his nephew and comrade killed by Russians

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